The airport departure area is just huge but very quiet.
I use the self check-in counter, here you can even weigh and label your own baggage. I get a boarding pass without having to talk to anybody.
There's not much else to go except pass security. Up the escalators, terminal 3 is a gigantic shopping mall, one long building. Standing here, I cannot see either end of the terminal. It's a sea of duty free shops and eateries. All long it the departure gates hang off to one side. There are over 100 gates, hence over 100 planes, all in one line. That's how big this place is. It's busy too. Packed with people. I head for the quiet of the departure gate. An hour before departure, the gate is open to let people through to a secure lounge downstairs where the plane is boarded. With free wireless available, I email Helen before boarding the plane.The flight is fine, I have a spare seat next to me. We touch down in Glasgow 1pm local time. Immigration isn't so friendly. I am asked "what is the purpose of your visit to the UK?" to which I reply "I live here". After finding my visa in my password, the office gives me the third degree and questions what must be every piece of information on his computer screen, plus more for good measure. Welcome home? Yeah right! I'll always be treated like an alien here I guess.
The shuttle bus to Glasgow Queen St train station is busy. I'm in what is arguably the swine flu capital of the world and people sneeze and cough all around me. Joy!
Once at the train station, I spend £10.40 on a ticket to Edinburgh, then find the train is so full I cannot fit on. What a rip-off, around NZ$27 for a train journey same length as Wellington to Kapiti, mid afternoon, and the train is full. Somebody's making money. I get the next train which is just as packed. It turns out Oasis are playing in Edinburgh so the trains are full of concert goers.
I arrive back home in Edinburgh at 4:45pm. A long day.
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